Germany bumps off Argentina in shootout

BERLIN -- Germany relentlessly wore down Argentina, scored a tying goal in the 80th minute Friday, then won it 4-2 in a penalty-kick shootout as goalkeeper Jens Lehmann stopped two shots and the hosts made all four of theirs.

Rather than getting desperate when they fell Friday behind for the first time in the tournament, the Germans pressed the attack and beat Argentina's backup goalkeeper Leonardo Franco -- playing only his third game with Argentina and his first minutes of the World Cup -- on Miroslav Klose's header to pull even 1-1.

After a scoreless extra time, Germany grabbed a spot in the semifinals opposite Italy by dominating the shootout against the second-string keeper.

Oliver Neuville, Michael Ballack, Lukas Podolski and Tim Borowski had no trouble with Franco in the shootout. Roberto Ayala, who scored in the 49th minute, and Esteban Cambiasso were stopped by Lehmann.

When Lehmann made the final save, the German players, who stood arm-in-arm on the field, sprinted to mob him.

Italy 3, Ukraine 0

HAMBURG, Germany -- With an early strike, a goal-saving scramble and an assist from defender Gianluca Zambrotta, Italy held off the World Cup newcomer.

One minute after Zambrotta kicked a ball off his own goal line to quash Ukraine's last hope of an upset, Luca Toni scored his first World Cup goal with a header and added a second when he slid in Zambrotta's pass in the 69th minute.

-- The Associated Press